The Business Bytes
Bengaluru, May 28, 2024 (TBB Bureau): Amazon continues to make significant strides in empowering communities through a variety of impactful initiatives, positively impacting more than 7.8 million people nationwide. By leveraging its vast resources and innovative capabilities, Amazon focuses on providing essential education and skills training to underserved populations.
One of the cornerstone programs, Amazon Future Engineer, aims to bridge the gap in computer science education. This initiative offers young students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to gain crucial skills for their future careers. Complementing these educational efforts are numerous scholarship programs designed to eliminate financial barriers to quality education.
In a recent announcement, Amazon revealed that it has begun pre-positioning disaster relief materials, including shelter and hygiene kits, to ensure rapid response within 72 hours. Utilizing its extensive logistics network, Amazon can efficiently distribute relief items to communities in need across the country.
Beyond emergency responses, Amazon invests in local communities by promoting health, hygiene, and entrepreneurship. Special emphasis is placed on creating job opportunities for women and individuals with disabilities, underscoring the company’s commitment to fostering inclusive economic growth.
“At Amazon, our success is fundamentally linked to the well-being of the communities we serve,” said Manish Tiwary, Vice President and Country Manager for Amazon India. “We are committed to making a lasting impact and will continue to leverage our resources for the greater good and strive to be the good neighbour for the communities we live and work in.”
Amazon’s health and hygiene campaigns have touched the lives of over 20,000 women and girls. The company is also enabling entrepreneurship by setting up sanitary napkin production units in cities like Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bangalore. These units provide sustainable livelihoods for 60 rural women and ensure environmentally responsible products for over 2000 rural women and girls in their neighbourhoods.
In partnership with Sarthak Educational Trust, Amazon.in launched the Global Resource Centre (GRC) in 2023. Since then, the initiative has trained over 10,000 beneficiaries and provided employment opportunities to over 6000 People with Disabilities (PWDs), offering monthly remuneration up to INR 20,000 and assistance with travel and accommodation.
During the Global Month of Volunteering, from May 1st to May 31st, 2024, Amazon is focusing on education, food security, sustainability, and women’s empowerment. With over 150 events nationwide and partnerships with more than 40 non-profits, Amazon employees have numerous ways to get involved. So far, over 35,000 employees have participated in various activities.
Furthermore, Amazon supports local artisans and small businesses through innovative initiatives like the introduction of an app that revitalized the traditional weaving industry in Pochampally. By providing tools and platforms for local artisans to reach wider markets, Amazon preserves cultural heritage and enhances economic opportunities for these communities.
Overall, Amazon’s comprehensive community impact strategy underscores its commitment to leveraging technology and resources to drive positive change and support sustainable development across various sectors. The company’s ongoing efforts demonstrate a clear dedication to creating lasting benefits for communities around the world where its employees live and work.
